Old Buzz’s Bike Shop worth more than just dollars to La Crosse

City to try again to gain national
historical designation for former bank

A building on La Crosse’s north side may have more value than just what it’s worth in dollars.  

At least that’s why there continues to be efforts to maintain the 19th century former bank building on the north side of La Crosse.  

“That building itself is a large part of the history of north La Crosse,” Tim Acklin in the La Crosse city planning office said. “The bank itself was the first bank in north La Crosse.”

Acklin added that historical relevance along with the building’s unique design is why it needs to be preserved both as a historical artifact and as a center around which a commercial area can grow.  

“It’s one of the more valuable buildings on the north side in terms of aesthetic value, architectural value and things like that,” Acklin said. “We wouldn’t want to lose that.”

Acklin plans to try again to gain a national historical designation for the old Buzz’s Bike Shop.  

The last attempt failed, potentially endangering the city’s ability to attract a developer to restore it, meaning whomever buys it would not be in line for historic preservation tax credits.